As the push for equal representation in sports continues, conversations around NIL (name, image and likeness), revenue sharing and proper recognition remain ongoing. Reflecting on this past year at San Diego State, the following moments spotlight the achievements of several women’s teams, a reminder that their success deserves full attention, not the sidelines.
Record crowd signals rise in women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team drew a record-breaking crowd of 8,054 fans at Viejas Arena during its matchup against New Mexico on Jan. 14, signaling a growing recognition of women’s sports, especially at a school long associated with its men’s program.
Despite the typical imbalance in visibility, the women’s team has recently delivered results as good as, if not better than, those of the men’s program. Players credited the milestone to a collective effort, emphasizing both the team’s commitment and the athletic department’s support in making history possible.
Marketing director Armando Ruelas has a year-to-year goal of inviting schools from the San Diego Unified School District to provide younger generations with access to the women’s basketball team.
“It’s a unique opportunity for us [SDSU Athletics] to combine that first experience for them with a women’s basketball game, and we’ve noticed that hosting those events has been huge for the attention surrounding our women’s basketball program,” Ruelas said.
This win strengthened the team’s momentum, highlighted by 14 made three-pointers, illustrating their ability to draw support and perform under pressure. The women’s basketball team finished the 2025-26 season with 19 Mountain West wins, the most in conference history, and advanced to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals.
Swimming & diving dynasty continues
Additionally, the women’s swim and dive team has captured its fifth consecutive Mountain West Conference championship in early 2026, marking the program’s 10th title overall. With their mutual support, this group of women pushes one another to believe in themselves through vulnerability, dedication and teamwork, setting them apart from other teams.
Mountain West Coach of the Year Roland McDonald said, “We do a lot of things away from the pool to promote caring for each other. We have a big sister, little sister program for all freshmen that come in to be assigned with upper classmen to help navigate college life … We care about them number one as a young lady, then as a student-athlete.”
A key contributor to the team, senior Moa Bergdahl aims to leave a lasting mark on women’s sports at SDSU, both by honoring the program that shaped her unforgettable experience and by serving as an example for other teams.
“Being a part of a dominating team in women’s sports at this school gives us attention and other teams look at us wanting to achieve what we’ve achieved,” Bergdahl said. “I was talking to some of the golf team and they said they also want to win their fifth title and be in it together with us.”
Tennis team’s historic season
The women’s tennis team continued its historic run this season, clinching a share of the Mountain West regular-season title with a 4-0 sweep against Grand Canyon on April 17 to finish 10–1 in conference play. After winning the 2025 title outright, the Aztecs carried that momentum into 2026, earning the top tournament seed, posting their best start in years at 11-1, and capturing the Mountain West Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Jo-Yee Chan wants to influence and inspire the younger generation to reach their dreams. The Aztecs’ goals for the year were set to continue achieving milestones for themselves and the bigger picture.
“The biggest thing in our team was being mentally tough,” Chan said. “We emphasize it a lot in our little team meetings and so it started from practice and we really kept that consistency, having a good environment, which contributed to us winning the championship.”
The accomplishments of this tennis team reflect their perseverance in achieving not only wins and a positive team culture for the benefit of the individuals, but also in showing that San Diego State women’s tennis is a powerhouse in this country, a point head coach Nicolas Vinel would agree with.
“I hope that people now look at San Diego State and say, ‘Okay, we want to be there and we want to be a part of something.’ Hopefully, the program keeps getting better and better,” Vinel said.
These moments represent more than just the achievements of hardworking teams. Women’s sports have endured countless challenges to reach a point of greater equality, creating opportunities for teams like these to pursue success in the sports they love while inspiring others along the way.
